GMB Birmingham & West Midlands Region

Transport Drivers Fund

Financial members of the union who drive in the course of their employment can, if they so desire, join the Transport Drivers’ Fund. The contribution to the fund is 2p per week, 9p per month extra to the contribution rate of the union.

The qualifying period for the fund is six months and afterwards for so long as the member continues to pay the extra 2p per week, 9p per month and is also fully financial with the union.

A member shall be entitled to the provision of a legal defence in the event of alleged motoring offences arising during the course of his or her employment. However, if the necessity for legal assistance has be caused by drunkenness, wilful neglect of duty or by any criminal act on the part of the member, legal assistance shall not be granted and a hardship grant shall not be payable.

A member can also receive up to £60, by way of a hardship grant, in any one calendar year towards the cost of any speeding or parking fines whilst carrying out their role.

Hardship Grants

A member of the fund may apply to the Regional Committee or to the Regional Secretary, acting on the Committee’s behalf, for payment of a grant to relieve hardship suffered from him/her following the conviction by a court for a motoring offence.

The Committee may require the member to provide whatever information it may deem appropriate.

Terms & Conditions

Without prejudice to the discretion of the Committee or the Regional Secretary acting on the Committee’s behalf to decide whether or not to make payment of a hardship grant and to determine the amount of such grant in a particular case, the Committee may resolve to be guided by such guidelines as it may deem suitable to ensure consistency and fairness in the consideration of applications (PROVIDED that no hardship grant shall exceed the sum of £60 in any calendar year).

Should there be a case, however, wherein the Regional Management Committee or Regional Secretary is satisfied that the necessity for legal assistance has been caused by drunkenness, wilful neglect of duty, or by any criminal act on the part of the member, legal assistance shall not be granted and a hardship grant shall not be payable. Should such circumstances become apparent after the grant of legal assistance, such assistance may be withdrawn at any time.

Should a member’s case be taken up and lost in consequence of the member’s own false statements, the union shall not accept liability for the cost of the defence or other costs.

Where a member of the fund is guilty of frequently violating the Road Traffic Acts, the Regional Committee shall have the right to terminate his or her membership of the legal defence fund. In such circumstances, the member will have the right to appeal to the Regional Council.

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The Education and Health & Safety department is based at our Regional Office in Halesowen. The department is the support engine for over 1,300 shop stewards, safety representatives and learner representatives, who assist and represent thousands of our members throughout the Birmingham and West Midland Region. Further information is available on.